Best of 2009 (10-1)

1) Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs

They've managed to retain their style for over 20 years, yet continue to sound fresh and adventurous. One of the best bands in existence.

Fun with fruit:


2) Superchunk - Leaves in the Gutter EP


This EP completely rocked my shit for like three months straight.

3) Neko Case - Middle Cyclone


I know of at least one contemporary female piano player that I like. And it doesn't hurt that she covers both Harry Nilsson and Sparks.

Horse whisperer:


4) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest


This was the year in which we see Grizzly Bear become a household name, and for good reason.

Tripping balls:


5) Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle


Bill Callahan returns to his sparse, wry, and manically depressing songwriting. Because happy Smog just doesn't cut it.

6) Group Bombino - Guitars from Agadez Vol. 2


Unlike the first volume, this one is half acoustic, half electric. But it’s still completely raw and messy and awesome. What else would you expect from a Nigerien rebel group?

7) Piano Magic - Ovations


Girlfriend dump you? Take a bunch of ketamine? Paranoid that your heart is about to collapse into itself? Or just generally feel like offing yourself? Well, the good news is you’ve found your soundtrack.

8) Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family - My Ancestors


Technically a release from the early 70's, this album boasts simple melodies, fuzzed-out psych guitar solos, and heavy drums. This sounds a bit like Cream if they were Zambian and Clapton had any balls.

9) A.C. Newman - Get Guilty


Newman’s second solo album is more introspective than his first, but it’s still full of endless hooks and skillful songwriting. And it proves once again that he’s at his best when in total control.

10) Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy


It might not be Built to Spill's best album, but it's got everything they've come to be known for (namely, triple guitar beard attack). And props to them for including slide guitar again- "Hindsight" is a jam reminiscent of much of Doug Martsch's solo album.

Grizzly Bear

New video for Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks". With all the over-stimulating videos being made these days, it's nice to see technology being used for simple effect. And that simple effective has either turned the members of Grizzly Bear into real-life Wii people or LSD users. Just look at those dilated pupils and shit-eating grins!

Department of Eagles video

It's always nice when people put a lot of effort into a music video. The new Department of Eagles video for "No One Does It Like You" features an astonishing amount of choreography, some pretty great costumes, and a whole lot of bloodshed. It's fun artsy fartsy, not to be confused with heavy artsy fartsy. You feel me?

Grizzly Bear

We here at the Regular Express foam at the mouth for anything Grizzly Bear related. It's been a little while since they've released anything new (though there was that Department of Eagles record last year), so word of a release date or new songs being played live is like discovering a "bear"-ied treasure. Recently there have been a few new jams floating around that I'd like to share. They're all from a live show in Boston that the Grizz played in August. Why they're only making the rounds now, I'm not sure. This is the digital age! Lightning fast people, let's do it!

Aside from these new songs, there's a remake of "Service Bell," recorded with Feist, set to be released in about two weeks on the 4AD Dark Is The Night comp. Indie compilation of the century. Unfortunately I can't seem to find the new "Service Bell," so these live ones will have to do for now.

Grizzly Bear - 2 Hud
Grizzly Bear - Fine For Now
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

-Cole

Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

It might not come as much of a surprise, but Daniel Rossen and Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear haven't always gotten along. Being one of my favourite bands, I don't like to think of any problems going on with Grizzly Bear, but if a little bit of a difference has led to Department of Eagles releasing their new record In Ear Park, well then it's something I'm absolutely willing to put up with.

Grizzly Bear's music seems to alternate between two subtle personalities, led by Ed Droste and Dan Rossen. More delicate and familiar, Dan Rossen has really opened up with his other project, Department of Eagles. 

Department of Eagles are Fred Nicolaus and Daniel Rossen, who met at the University of New York in 2000. With their first album, The Cold Nose, quietly released in 2003, their next anticipated album has arrived a little more loudly, and with a bit of help from the other members of Grizzly Bear sans-Ed. With 'Deep Blue Sea' being the standout song on Grizzly Bear's Friend EP, I was excited to hear anything of Rossen's that I could get my hands on.

Their second album, In Ear Park, is filled with beautiful harmonies and rich acoustic guitar. It avoids being superior or pretentious, simply by being personal and tender. This doesn't mean that it's simple; as an album, In Ear Park  is quite complex, and so varied and dynamic that it requires a few listens to take it all in. Once you spend some time with it, In Ear Park is an album you can get close to. And what's more, it's really really good! I've listened to it quite a bit, and am more than happy to carry these songs around in my head all day. Also, on the single release of 'No One Does it Like You', they've included Dan Rossen's cover of Jojo's 'Too Little Too Late', which is just great. It sounds so different from the original (thank goodness), and is a beautiful song in its own right. Apparently Dan put it together for Ed's birthday.

I don't want to pitch Department of Eagles against Grizzly Bear. Obviously, there are a lot of similarities between each of their sounds. In truth, listening to In Ear Park was more like getting to know one side of Grizzly Bear a whole lot better.  And while I'm waiting for Grizzly Bear's third record to come out, nothing could tie me over more perfectly.

Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You.mp3

Daniel Rossen - Too Little Too Late (Jojo Cover).mp3

- Emily